Welshpool man guilty of child rape

A jury took less than 30 minutes to find a Welshpool man guilty of serious sexual offences against children, including rape.

Tom Piggott, aged 21, had denied two counts of raping a child, three counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of inciting a child to take part in a sexual act, and three counts of making indecent images of children.

But his weak defence was not believed by jurors who returned a guilty verdict on all 10 counts following a five-day trial at Mold Crown Court.

Piggott, a para-swimmer and a swimming coach, had been hoping to book a place for this summer’s Tokyo Paralympic Games, but he can expect a lengthy spell behind bars instead with the verdict welcomed by Dyfed-Powys Police.

“This investigation has been a massive undertaking for all involved,” said DC Steve Williams.

“From the investigating team, to the digital media investigators, it has been an incredible amount of work, but we’re satisfied it has been worth the effort to get justice for these young victims.

“None of this would have been possible without their strength and bravery in coming forward.

“It is their willingness to tell the truth about what Piggott did to them that has meant he has been convicted.

“Piggott showed incredible arrogance in trying to lie his way out of the situation he found himself in as a result of his terrible actions. But the evidence proved too strong.”

Piggott was also convicted of possessing 141 videos, 58 of which are in the most serious category, and 29 indecent images, six of which are in the most serious category, found on electronic devices seized from his home.

DC Williams added: “Some of the images we found on his devices were among the worst I have seen in a long career investigating crimes such as his.”

Piggott will be sentenced at Mold Crown Court on September 13.